Five-Year Retrospective Review of Blunt Renal Injuries at a Level I Trauma Center

Abstract

We report the experience of a Level I trauma center in the management of blunt renal injury during a 5-year period, with special attention to those treated using angiography with embolization. The institutional trauma registry was queried for all patients with blunt renal injury between September 1, 2009 and August 30, 2014. Each injury was graded using the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma guidelines. Patients that underwent angiography with embolization were reviewed for case-specific information including imaging findings, treatment, materials used, clinical course, and mortality. The registry identified 48 blunt renal injury patients. Median Injury Severity Score was higher and hospital length of stay was significantly longer in those with blunt renal injury when compared with those without blunt renal injury (P < 0.001). The majority of patients with blunt renal injury were managed nonoperatively. Mortality was three out of 48 patients (5%). Nine patients underwent exploratory laparotomy. These operations were always performed for reasons other than the renal trauma (e.g., splenic injury, free fluid, free air). No patient underwent invasive renal operation. Six patients were treated using angiography with embolization. Of the six, one patient died of pulmonary septic complications. We conclude that selective nonoperative management is the mainstay of treatment for blunt renal injury. Angiography with embolization is a useful modality for cases of ongoing bleeding, and is typically preferable to nephrectomy in our experience.